Isaiah 24:16-17
Deceit still prevails
Treachery is everywhere
Terror, traps and snares will be the lot of the people of the earth.
-Deception and deceit - where are the places we can be deceived?
Complete strangers attempt to deceive us, sometimes intentionally sometimes unintentionally.
-What about acquaintances and friends, co-workers, bosses, those we might be in authority over. Again sometimes they intentionally deceive us, at other times unintentionally.
-Now in the realm of family and loved ones? Ever been deceived - intentionally or unintentionally?
-What about ourselves? Do we let ourselves be deceived, ignore clear signs hoping for the best, hoping for something that fits into our desires?
Some examples:
-The things God despises: Proverbs 6:16-19 All about deception.
-In Isaiah 26:9 it says only when God comes in judgement will we know what is true and right. The closer we allow ourselves to get in relationship to Him the better the glimpse.
-In Isaiah 56:9-12 (11) sinful leaders (of God's people) are condemned - greedy - following their own path - intent on personal gain. They are out there.
-In 2 Peter 2:13 Warning against false prophets - false teachers delight in deception. Some know they do others may not, or pretend not to- we can't know. We can't trust.
-In Acts 13:10 Paul states that a person is the son of devil full of deceit and fraud - an enemy of all that is good. We're all subject to being such people that Paul's description applies to us.
From the headlines:
-ASPCA - a dog is beaten every 60 seconds (1 minute)
-gun violence- 1 person killed by a gun every 1200 seconds (20 minutes)
Not from the headlines:
The one we don't hear or want to hear: 1 abortion every 26 seconds
-In Isaiah 59:15 truth is gone- anyone who renounces evil is attacked. May be labelled a hater for promoting God's design for marriage, A homophobe for stating homosexuality isn't God's best for us His creations. We can only intercede when we see others self deceived, and listen to God's direction. Being true to God's beliefs that are ours.
-Is treachery and deceit everywhere? In Romans 3:4 God is true even if everyone else is a liar. So where is there deception? There is nobody except Jesus in this world that we can trust, and this includes ourselves.
This means:
Regardless of your relationship to someone and what you hope for and think we still can be hurt, usually through some deception or unGodly agenda, whether they meant to do it, or were deceived or we interpreted something incorrectly intentionally or unintentionally. There is not a relationship you can have in this life that will not bring about heartbreak, except for a relationship with Jesus. Even if we are fully submitted to God, people we're in relationship with might not go along with that agenda. Trying relationships can drive you to a closer relationship to the Lord. The only truly fulfilling relationship in life is one with Christ, and to the extent its not we're the problem.
About us:
We are quite deceived. We may or may not realize we're not God, but we try to be god in our lives. Even those that tell you they are Christians may have some areas in their lives where they are essentially telling God - "I got this". When God identified Himself to Moses just before the Exodus he referred to Himself as "I am" (Exodus 3:14) this was how he stated He was in charge He was God. Beware of people including yourself who do that. To say or proclaim "I am...." may be a proclamation of deity- again it can be intentional but probably unintentional. Maybe its an "I can't....", maybe its an unwillingness to do what we feel called to do. Sometimes we celebrate the fact we are sinners and it leads (or deceives) us into continuing in sin. Maybe we accept a label - not given us by God, maybe its one we've given ourselves or others have given us in order to somehow attempt to make ourselves feel better about continuing in sin.
-Its popular to talk about self esteem. Self esteem or Christ esteem - which is most important, and isn't promoting self in opposition to Christ.
-We choose to have relationship with Christ. When people choose not to have a relationship with Christ - intentionally or unintentionally, they become their own God. People get hurt, we're all capable of great wickedness in any area we turn away from the Lord ways to try and follow our own. Taking creation for our own and becoming our own god.
Example:
-Matt 16: 13-23 Peter- the Lord is Messiah and then rebuked for his view of things being of man and not God's Also partly in Luke 9:18-20, fully in Mark 8:27-33
-Later Peter was wondering about others. John 21: 21-2
-In Romans 1:21-22 It says we know of God but refuse to listen to Him rather we think up foolish things. Claiming to be wise, we are utter fools
What we deserve:
In Isaiah 53:6,9 All of us like sheep have gone astray, we have left God's paths to follow our own.
He (Christ) had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. We deserve crucifixion - why do we deceive ourselves and play the victim when bad things happen to us? We're self deceived that somehow we deserve something, when in fact bad things are what we deserve. The only good we ever do is when we let Christ work through us or shine out of us. The good things in our lives are His abundant blessings given to us anyway.
God's Plan :
We were created for relationship with Him, and He desires that relationship. With everyone. He wants us to want relationship with Him, but He will not force it, so we have a choice. We realize from our relationship history in this life that we can't have a true meaningful relationship without the free choice of the other and the continued choosing to make that relationship important.
-We have to spend time with the Lord to develop it, just like we willingly spend time with any person we want to know better. We need to learn to hear his voice.
-In Romans 7:14 Paul's struggle- he does the things he doesn't want to do, and doesn't do the things of God, constant struggle constant choice - certain doom if we let "I" be in charge. Nothing good lives within us. Our natural nature is to sin, do our own thing and not God's, but we have hope.
-In Acts 17:27 - His purpose is that Nations will find Him - although He is not far from anyone. We have to have the option of turning away, walking away.
-In Isaiah 30:18 the Lord waits for us to come to Him- to want that relationship actively to be at the end of self, realize our brokeness. In the Beatitudes He blesses the broken because only those that tear down the deceptions around them know of their true condition. Mat 5:3,8.
-In Isaiah 50:11- watch out you that live in your own light, and warm yourselves by your own fires - the reward from the Lord will be falling down and great torment. We must leave our program, our desires, and our paths, and must be on His program.
-In Isaiah 55:8,9 - My thoughts and ways higher than your ways, His ways beyond what we can imagine. Another reason to be on His plan rather than our own.
-In Isaiah 26:3,4 God will keep in perfect peace those who mind is stayed on Thee
Relationship to Christ isn't smooth sailing:
In the last days there will be persecution of the church, being a believer will be a crime.
- In Mark 13:9-13 Last days- beaten in synagogues, stand trial for being His followers. Those that have relationship with Him will know what to say and be able to endure.
- In Matthew 24:9-13 Jesus followers arrested persecuted and killed, many turn away, Good news preached throughout the whole world.
- In Luke 21:12-19 Jesus followers arrested, betrayed by families - some Christians killed. Stand firm
-Lazarus condition as Christian Luke 16: 19-31 He only had relationship to Christ, versus the man who seemingly had everything missed Christ.
-Paul and Silas in prison. Acts 16:25-30, proclaimed God's ways and word.
-What will you endure for the Lord. In this life Lazarus had nothing. Abounding deception can develop our relationship to the Lord. As can relationships- good and bad. Focus on the Lord develop relationship with Him - remember what we deserve. We aren't promised anything materially, no smooth sailing in life, relationship to the Lord is enough, it has to be, it was for Lazarus.
Sheep and Goats:
-In Isaiah 26:8 Shows trust in God is to obey His laws, it is action- not just knowledge of. Obedience to His ways - lip service is a continuing deception.
-Sheep and goat separation Matthew 25:31-46 The Lord knows the truth and will act on it, only in Him can you know it also.
Now what:
So what are you choosing concerning the Lord, are you deepening your relationship? Are you in self deception? Its a question only you can answer, the Lord is willing to help you develop your relationship to Him to the extent you are willing. The Lord is everywhere - you can meet Him where you are, you can come down to the alter so people can see, you can crawl under the pew - but He is there, you can't get away from Him.
- In Isaiah 65:12 God called, no answer, He spoke- nobody listened, they deliberately sinned and chose to do what He despises. Its interesting that He said we choose.
- In Isaiah 66:4 The Lord will send what you greatly fear - He called, no answer, He spoke nobody listened.
-These were the Lord's call to His people prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and them going into exile.
-Romans 12:1-2 - conclusion develop relationship with God constantly in touch, being led in His ways.
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